John Anderson Poet Free verse

Etched in Still Water

It starts as a ripple
barely noticed
a hesitation
a pause 
in the flow
a ring around
a shallow 
imprint
a mark 
in the
surface

a wrinkle
in the mirror
where sky and water
used to agree

a faint distortion
of reflections
with clouds no longer
quite where 
they belong
should be
kinks the surface
with negativity

deepening
encircling
revolving
gathering more
of the surrounds
shadows
sticks 
leaves
dust 
debris
feelings
unreturned
pulling 
them down
harder and stronger
spinning faster
and faster
down

a funnel
forms
drawing down
further
it's creased
on the sides
now become
walls
hard to 
climb back up
the drag
so sublime
smooth as silk
slippery 
in the clutches
of gravity

faces lean over
the rim
peering in
as the plughole
below
gurgles 
whispers
stop fighting
rest awhile
let go
glug
let go

each reach 
outward
bends inward
each breath 
withheld
expelled
quashed
sucked
into the
void below
where 
even hope
must 
tread water
to keep 
head above
the undertow
of the
whirlpool
gathering
more of you
less of me
less of sky
less of reason
all directions
pointing 
downward
into
submission
until the circle
becomes the world
and the world
becomes a single
darkened 
full stop

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment